One-Line Life Quotes: Carefully selected words that gently nudge you forward
The words of great figures—who have accumulated many experiences, wrestled with doubts, and taken action throughout their lives—are filled with wisdom for living richly.
One way to learn from them is by reading autobiographies.
But many people may find it hard to make time to read thick volumes packed with the intense lives of those who came before us.
So in this article, we’ve selected and shared some special messages from the famous quotes of various notable people that can serve as hints for life.
If you read them when you hit a wall or feel lost and unsettled, you’ll likely find your heart calming and your thinking becoming clearer.
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[Life One-Liner Quotes] Carefully Selected Words That Gently Push You Forward (41–50)
I want to aim for the place I couldn’t reach.Tanaka Marcus Tulio
He’s a former Japan national team defender.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka is a player who’s willing to do the gritty, hard work.
From these words, I feel a strong desire for self-improvement.
In life, too, if we strive to reach levels we’ve never seen before, things might become richer.
[One-Line Life Quotes] Carefully selected words that gently push you forward (51–60)
So that’s it—that’s the blue bird we’ve been searching for. We went so far to look for it, but it was really here all along.Maurice Maeterlinck
It’s a line from the fairy-play by Maurice Maeterlinck, the Belgian poet and playwright.
It’s a didactic story about searching and searching for the Blue Bird that is said to bring happiness, only to realize in the end that true happiness was right there all along.
Because there is a premise of happiness, we are able to find unhappiness.Kazlaser
People inevitably tend to focus on misfortune and problems, but happiness is something we can truly feel precisely because those moments exist as a contrast.
That said, there’s no need to let your heart be consumed by misfortune.
By consciously looking away just a little, you become more aware of the small joys and comforts in everyday life.
The more knowledgeable and analytical a person is, the more they notice and feel the problems and misfortunes hidden in daily life; but by intentionally avoiding them, the mind becomes calmer and you can savor everyday happiness more fully.
The very act of looking away is a positive strategy to keep your heart from being ruled by misfortune.
It’s okay. Let’s rebuild again.Akio Tadano
These are the words of Akio Tadano, who ran a ryokan in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture—words about moving forward with a positive spirit even in the face of hardship.
At the time, many interviews carried a heavy sense of gloom and featured questions that stoked anxiety, which is why the fact that he delivered these words with a smile drew so much attention.
They convey a powerful hope amid uncertainty—the sense that by keeping on and not standing still, a new path will open.
The impression is further strengthened by the fact that Mr.
Tadano actually rebuilt his ryokan, embodying the importance of facing forward, just as he said.
If you endure, you will surely become a strong person.Senichi Hoshino
These are the words of Senichi Hoshino, who excelled as a player for the Chunichi Dragons during his career and later made his mark as a manager for the Chunichi Dragons, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
During the Great East Japan Earthquake, he was the manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the team from the disaster-stricken region, and his words are remembered for inspiring many people.
He conveys that no matter what difficulties you face, you should give your all in the present and confront them head-on—that strength lies along the path you advance by doing so.
Because these are the words of Hoshino, who rebuilt teams whose results had faltered, they carry real persuasive power; they are words that lift your spirits and make you want to keep pushing forward.
Prepare pessimistically, act optimistically.Kazuo Inamori
Let me introduce a famous quote left by Kazuo Inamori: “Prepare pessimistically, act optimistically.” Kazuo Inamori was a Japanese entrepreneur and engineer.
He founded Kyocera and Daini Denden, which is now KDDI, and served as chairman of the Inamori Foundation, a public-interest incorporated foundation.
He was also honorary chairman of Japan Airlines.
In the planning stage, with a strong will that says, “No matter what, we must accomplish this,” one should reexamine the plan with a pessimistic eye; then, in the execution stage, with the confidence that “We can definitely do it,” one should carry it out optimistically—brightly and with dignity.
Doesn’t this conviction also apply to disaster preparedness?
Humans will end up happy anyway.Kazlaser
There are movies that don’t end with a happy ending, right? How many can you name? I dislike stories that don’t end happily—I simply won’t read, watch, or listen to them.
Depending on how you take it, I think Kazlaser’s words here can sound quite cruel, because there are people who, no matter what, can’t feel happy.
But try prefacing it with “Even so,” and then read the line: “Humans are bound to end up happy anyway.” Doesn’t it even bring Kaz’s smile to mind? It’s something I want you to remember when you feel like you’re about to lose heart.